Liquid-level regulating and controlling apparatus



1,623,811 p 1927' H. D. POWNALL LIQUID LEVEL REGULATING AND CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 10. 1924 ATTO/P/VEK Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES HENRY D. POWNALL, 0F CANTON, OHIO.

LIQUID-LEVEL REGULATING AND CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 10, 1924.

My invention relates to liquid level regulating and controlling apparatus. ()ne of its objects is to provide improved float controlled valve mechanism to automatically supply liquids at a uniform liquid level. Another object is to provide improved float and valve controlled liquid supply apparatus. Another object is to provide improved float controlled valve mechanism readily adjustable to vary the liquid level as may be. required. Another object is to provide improved float controlled valve mechanism and adjustable overflow means to variably control a liquid level and supply. My invention also comprises certain details of form and combination and arrangement of components. all of which will be fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through a liquid container with my improved apparatus mounted therein.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the :qmparatus shown in Fig. 1.

The accompanying dravi'ings illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention in which 15 repicsents a liquid container which preferably open at the top and has connected to the bottom thereol a liquid sup ply conduit 16, a liquid overflow conduit 17 and. a valve controlled liquid drain conduit A valve casing 19 is mounted inside the container over the inner end of the conduit 10. A tubular tapered valve or cock 2O rests upon a tapered valve seat 22, and has a valve port 2%. to rcsgister with a port through the wall of the valve casing 19. A cross bar 27 is supported rigidly upon stud shafts l8 and :29 above and upon the valve casing. The stem 30 of the valve 20 journals in a bearing in the cross bar 27. A coiled spring 32 interposed between the cross bar 27 and a dome or hood 33 mounted upon the valve 20 serves to resiliently hold the valve :20 to its seat in the valve casing. A rectangular wrench seat 31 enables a hand wrench to be applied to the valve 20 to rotate it upon its seat to either open or close a liquid passage through the ports 2 1 and i A verti 'al valve stem 35 carries two valves Serial No. 742,949.

36 and 37, which are substantially balanced by the substantially equal pressure of the liquid upwardly and downwardly against: the inner faces of the valves 36 and 37. The valves 36 and 37 may be variously seated. As illustrated the valves 36 and Eli closely lit into and close cylindrical valve seats 38 and 39 formed in opposite ends of the tubular valve 20, so as to open a passage for the escape of the liquid from the interior of the valve 20 at both ends of valve 20. when the stem 35 and valves 31; and 37 are elevated. A connecting rod or pitman it) is pivotally mounted upon the center 41 carried at the lower end of the stud shaft One end of the pitman to is slotted and is connected by means of a pin 42 to the lower end of the valve stem 35. At the opposite end of the pitman -10 is pivotally connected a vertically disposed rod or bar ll. the upper end of which passes through a recess in a crossbar or strap 45 attached rigidly across the top of the con tainer 15. A float member 46 is mounted upon the rod i and is adjustable vertically thereon to enable the liquid level in the container 15 to be predeterminml and adjusted. or to be changed at the will of the operator by adjustingthe float higher or lower upon the rod 44. Various means may be employed to etlect a vertical adjustment oi the float upon the rod 44. As illustrated collars 1-5 and -55) on the rod -11- limit the range of adjustment of the float thereon. A rack 50 is termed on the rod H intermediate of said collars which rack is engaged by a pinion I32 journaled in ears formed on the top of the float. A hand wheel 53 enables the pin ion to be turned by hand to adjust the float endwise ol the rod -11. and a spring actuated pawl :r-i engages the teeth of the pinion to lock the pinion to any adjusted position. The upper end of the rod 44 has a limited movement cndwise through the perforation in the strap 45, which movement is limited and may be adjusted by means of lock nuts 55 and 56 threaded to the rod above and below the strap 45.

fl. conical overflow tube 60 is attached over the inner end of the overflow conduit 17 to till lead any liquid which may overflow the upper edge til of said tube on down the conduit if to a waste conduit when the ovcrtiow tube is to be employed to prevent accidental ovcrliow ol' the container 15. 'lhe overllow tube 60 is also provided with a supplementaloverflow tube 63 to receive a normal or minor overflow which tube journals in a bearing, Lil through the side wall of the tube an. The shoulder or flange as of tube 6;} is held against the end of the bearing (ii to provide a substantially leak pi'uot joint by means of a spring (36, collar UT. and cotter pin (58. The supplemental ovcrtlow lube U3 is adjustable to a limited extent in its bearing H-lto variably adjust the liquid level in container if, and to variably adjust the point ot' overflow through said tube ca. A screw or pin 69 seated in a recess or slot in the flange 6:) serves to limit the adjustment of the tube (31). The spring on yielding-1y holds the tube (2;; to any position of adjustment.

The conduit 18 is designed to be provided with two branches and a three way valve of usual construction, not shown, or it desired with two independently valve controlled branches, one of which branches serves to load the fluid from the container l5 to another container not snown in which an automatically controlled or variably controlled liquid level is to be usefully employed, while the other ln'anch leads to a drain and serves to drain the liquid contents entirely from the container if when such is desired.

1 am thus enabled to entirely cut olf the liquid supply from conduit 16 to container by turning the valve 20 on its seat so as to close the ports 24; and hen the ports 24 and register the liquid flows into the interior chamber of valve LU, but is prevented by valves 36 and 37 from passing into the container 15, except when the valves If and 37 are opened through the action of the tloat. The donu- 33 over the alve 3T deflects any liquid passing valve 37 and prevents jets thereof being thrown over the upper edge of container if). The float is adjustable vertically at will upon its stem to adjustahly predeterminc the liquid level and the point at which the valves 36 and 3? will automatically open and close. lhe normal overflow is through the overflow conduit 63, which may be varied at will while any abnormal overflow due to dcfeclive action of the controlling valves, or to breakage take; place over the upper edge bl ot the tube fill, and serves to prevent the tiuid overflowing the top of the container.

My improved apparatus is applicable to a variety of uses where an automatically controlled liquid level or an adjustably controlled liquid level are required.

The apparatus hcreir shown and described is capable of considerable HlOlllllClh tion within the scope ol the claims without departing from the spirit ol' my invention,

What 1 claim is:

1. Liquid level C(Hltl'Ollllig apparatus comprising a liquid container, at liquid supply conduit leading to said container, a valve casing connected to the exit end of said supply conduit, a chambered valve seated in said valve casing and manually operable to open and close a port from said supply conduit to the interior of said valve, a pair of connected valves operable to open and close ports from opposite ends of said manually opcrablc valve to the interior of said liquid container, and a float located. in said container and opcratively connected to said connected valves to actuate said connected valves through changes in the liquid level in said'containcr.

:2. Liquid level controlling apparatus comprising a liquid container, at liquid supply conduit leading to said container, a valve casing connected to the exit end 01 said supply conduit, a chambered valve seated in said valve casing and manually operable to open and close a port from said supply conduit to the interior of said valve, 21 deflector hood carried by and above said valve casing, a pair of connected valves operable to open and close ports from opposite ends of said manually operable valve to the interior of said liquid container, a float located. in said container in position to be actuated by changes in the liquid level within said container, and means (meratively connecting said connected valves with said float.

Liquid level controlling apparatus comprising a liquid container, a liquid supply conduit, a valve using connected to the exit end of said supply conduit, a chambered valve seated in said valve casing and niante ally operable to open and close a port from said supply conduit to the interior ol said valve, a lloat actuated valve operable by changes in the liquid level in said liquid container to open and close a port from said supply port to the interior of said liquid container, at float operatively connected to said float actuated valve, means to adjust said float vertically within said liquid core taincr to variably control the liquid level in said liquid container, an emergency overflow to prevent accidental overflow at the upper edge of said liquid container, and an overflow member having an overflow lip adjustable vertically within said liquid container to conduct away from said liquid container a normal overflow incident to the operation of said apparatus.

l. Liquid level controlling apparatus coup prising a liquid container, a liquid supply conduit, a valve casing connected to the exit end of said supply conduit, a chambered valve seated in said valve casing and manul 1 ll ally operable to open and close a port from said supply conduit to the interior of said valve, a pair of connected valves operable to open and close poi-ts from opposite ends of said manually operable valvn to the ini'erior of said liquid container and lullzinceil uguinat the pressure of liquid flowing into said valve casing, and a float operatively connected 10 said balanced valves, and operable automatically by changes in the liquid level Within said liquid container.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto 11fiixeii my signature.

HENRY D. POlVNALI... 

